Beware of FBI Moneypak ransomeware virus

Recently I was browsing video on Youtube and a page popped up saying it was from the FBI and demanded $200, to be paid by Moneypak.

A little research revealed this to be a ransomeware virus. The FBI has stated they do not, and would not, conduct business this way.

I took my laptop to (a local electronics store) and they said it would cost $149 to clean the hard drive of the virus. They said within the past week at least four other computers had been brought in with the same issue.

My laptop was an older model, so I put the money toward a new computer. This virus is very tenacious and difficult to get rid of. I was able to get around the block by hitting the F8 key on start up and booting up in "Safe Mode with Networking". That does allow me access to the internet.

However, no scan with either Norton Antivirus or AVG would isolate the virus. Apparently there are a large variety of sites that could lead to infection.